David 'Poison' Kotey

December 1975

WBC Featherweight Champion - David Kotey was to defend his Championship in Osaka, Japan
versus #6 WBC-ranked Shig Fukuyama.

But both combatants could not make the 126 lb. weight, and the bout will be postponed.
until February 1976.

And former Champion - Bobby Chacon was 'eating' his way out of the division.
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Sunday - December 21, 1975

Sports Stadium - Accra, Ghana

Attendance; 32,000

10-Round Featherwweight 'non-title' bout.

'Kotey Fails To Impress The Crowd'

WBC Featherweight Champion - David 'Poison' Kotey (128 lbs.) struggled to escape with a 'close'
10-Round Decision over Calfornia-based Featherweight - David Sotelo (129 lbs.) in a non-title bout.

The 25 year-old Champion, was fighting for the first time in his home-country since winning
the WBC Championship in September 1975.

In the 'opening round', David Kotey came out fast, and threw punches from all angles, bouncing
punches off the face of David Sotelo. Kotey landed several sharp right hands, that drove Sotelo
backwards, and had the Mexican covering up.

But, in Round 2, Kotey found the going very difficult, as the strong 26 year-old David Sotelo
(from Guadalajara, Mexico) used his strength to bull the faster Ghanan into the ropes, and score
with left and right body punches.

In Rounds 3 and 4, Sotelo gave the Champion little room to move, and smothered Kotey's offense.
Sotelo suprised Kotey with hard right hands, and continued to keep the Champion pinned along the ropes,
where he would unload lefts and rights to the body of the Ghanan.

Kotey was able to get some punching room in the 'middle rounds', and was able to score with
his left jab and right crosses, but he could net get any of his power punches through the tough
Mexican's defense.

Kotey had his best round in the 7th, when he landed several good right hooks to shake the Mexican,
but Sotelo shook the blows off, and fought back well at the end of the round, bringing the fans to
cheer the action.

In Rounds 8 and 9, the fighters battled in close, and Sotelo gave Kotey very little room to maneuver,
while scoring with his own good lefts and rights to the body.

In the 'final round', Kotey opened up fast with a 30-second non-stop barrage of lefts and rights in an
effort to take out the tough Featherweight. But, Sotelo absorbed the punches, and came back with
his own good punches. In the last-minute, Sotelo chased Kotey into the ropes, and scored with
several good body punches until the 'final bell'.

The Decision was announced for David Kotey. The decision was not well received by the pro-Kotey fans,
and many thought that the 'hard-working' David Sotelo had done more than enough to earn the Decision.

David Kotey improves to 31-2-2 (19 KO's). David Sotelo drops to 38-13-2 (16 KO's)

David 'Poison' Kotey received a fight purse of $20,000.

David Sotelo received a purse of $4000, plus expenses.

 

Saturday Night - March 6, 1976

Sports Stadium - Accra, Ghana

Attendance; 50,000

WBC Featherweight Championship

Champion - David 'Poison' Kotey and Challenger - Japanese Featherweight Champion - Flipper Uehara.

The 25 year-old Champion 31-2-2 (19 KO's) will make the '1st-Defense' of his WBC Title versus
#10 WBC-ranked - 24 year-old Flipper Uehara 16-2-1 (5 KO's).

Flipper Uehara is a 'replacement challenger' for Shigefumi 'Shig' Fukuyama who suffered a cut eye
while in training 3-weeks earlier.

The Fight

The Champion (5' 7 1/2" and 126 lbs.) comes out like a 'Ghanan Terror' and bombards the smaller
Japan Challenger (5' 5" and 124 1/2 lbs.) with a barrage of left hooks and right uppercuts to the
head and body.

In Rounds 2, 3 and 4 - Kotey hammers 'Flipper' with a continuous two-fisted attack, and is driving
his Challenger all over the ring. Flipper is in 'survival mode', as Kotey is too fast and too powerful.

In Round 5, Kotey lands a thunderous left hook which stuns Uehara, and a follow-up right-hand and
left hook staggers Flipper. Referee - Harry Gibbs looks in, and almosts stops the 'one-sided' bout, but
allows the fight to continue.

Suprisingly, in Round 6, 'Flipper' battles back, and starts to get inside and under the Champion's arms,
and starts attacking the body with left and right hands.

In Round 7, 'Flipper' maintains the pressure, and backs the Champion up, while landing good hard
body shots.

But, the Champion stems the tide in Round 8, and out-guns the Challenger with hard 1-2's, and
controls the action through Rounds 9 and 10 with a consistent attack, as 'Flipper' is on the complete
defensive.

In Round 11, Kotey continues to land hard left hooks and right hands to 'Flippers' face, swelling up both
his eyes, but the 'tough' Challenger will not fold.

After Round 11, Referee-Harry Gibbs calls the Ringside Physician to look over the Challenger's puffy eyes,
but he lets the bout continue.

In Round 12, Kotey goes back to his steady attack of hard lefts and sharp right hands. Uehara tries
a short attack of body punches, but is quickly out-gunned by the Champion, and then gets battered
into the ropes. Referee Harry Gibbs jumps in and stops the bout at 2:32 of Round 12.

The Champion received $30,000 for his 'first title defense', plus an additional $2500 for film rights of the bout.

Flipper Uehara received $10,000 - plus $3000 ancillary fee's for the Japan Television broadcast rights.

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After the bout it was announced that the Champion - David Kotey would fight Shigefumi 'Shig' Fukuyama
in June 1976, and in Tokyo, as per release by Japanese Promoter Mr. Kanehira.

 

Friday Night - July 16, 1976

Korakuen Hall - Tokyo, Japan

Attendance; 2000

Fight Promoter; Keiichiro Kanehira

WBC Featherweight Championship

WBC Champion - David 'Poison' Kotey 32-2-2 (20 KO's)
vs.
#6 WBC Challenger - Shigefumi 'Shig' Fukuyama 38-11-3 (28 KO's)

Ghanan - David Kotey will defend his WBC Featherweight Championship
for the '2nd-time'. The on-again and off-again bout with the Japanese
Challenger will finally take place. This bout has been postponed '4-times'
over the past 6-months.

Shigefumi 'Shig' Fukuyama

The 26 year-old 5' 6" brawler-banger, Japan Featherweight was based in Los Angeles, and
was a 'regular' at The Olympic. Shig was a popular fighter, as he was always entertaining
with his 'comeback style', after getting banged around early.

Shig's career had stalled in March 1973, after suffering '4-straight' knockout losses - as well
as going 0-5-1 in '6-straight' bouts. But, Shig had a remarkable turn-around, and in 3-years
leading up to his Championship Bout, he had gone 12-1-0 (10 KO's), which included an '8 RTD'
over Danny 'Little Red' Lopez on September 19, 1974.

Shig's 'wreckless head-first style' made him a dangerous opponent, as he had slashing punches
and an 'anvil-head', which could easily open cuts over his opponents eyes.

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The Fight

The Champion (126 lbs.) wasted little time, and immediately went after the Challenger (125 3/4 lbs.),
and bombarded 'Shig' with an all-out blitz, driving him backawards on his heels. The Champion was
in total control, and kept Fukuyama at the end of his punches.

In Round 2, Kotey again attacked quickly, and landed several hard punches to drive Shig backwards.
But Fukuyama was not discouraged, and bulled forward and got in close to the Champion. While in
close quarters, both fighters exchanged left hooks, and then the Champion sustained a cut over his
left eye when 'Shig' landed a slashing overhand right.

The Champion, then retaliated quicky, and fired a hard volley of punches, stunning the Challenger.
Then Kotey landed a hard left hook and right cross to the chin, that dropped Shig in a heap.
Fukuyama got up at the '5-Count' but was also favoring his right ankle, which was injured while
falling to the canvas.

As 'Shig' got up, he was 'hobbling', and Kotey wasted no time in barrelling in, and dropped Shig
with a hard right hand flooring him for a '9-Count'. Referee - Harry Gibbs wanted to stop the
bout, but Fukuyama pleaded to go on. 'Shig' was now cut over the right eye, and in bad shape.

The Champion went in an unloaded several hard hooks, and almost felled 'Shig' a 'third-time'
with a hard right hand, but 'Shig' was 'saved-by-the-bell'.

In Round 3, the Champion came out like a 'propelled rocket', and blasted the over-matched Challenger
with a vicious flurry, 'capped' by a big right hook causing 'Shig' to slump to the canvas, where Referee -
Harry Gibbs immediately called a halt to the bout at 0:21 of Round 3.

Fight Purses (David Kotey $45,000) (Shigefumi Fukuyama $15,000)

After Fight Comments;

Referee - Harry Gibbs, 'I didn't want to stop it, as 'Shig' really tried with all his heart. But
David was too strong and 'Shig' was just taking too much punishment.'

David Kotey, 'I'm glad that 'Shig' is all-right. He is a tough fighter, but he couldn't take my
powerful punches. Next, we have a big fight with Danny Lopez.'

Shigefumi Fukuyama, 'I broke my right ankle when I fell. I tried with all my heart and courage,
but I couldn't put any weight on my right side. I waited 3-years for a Championship Fight,
and it now has to end like this.'

 

Saturday Night - November 6, 1976

Sports Stadium - Accra, Ghana

Attendance; 122,000

WBC Featherweight Championship

David Kotey will attempt to make the '3rd-Defense' of his WBC Crown.

Tale of the Tape

David 'Poison' Kotey (Accra, Ghana)
WBC Champion
Record..........33-2-2 (20 KO's)
Age..............25 years, 11 months
Height...........5' 7 1/2"
Reach...........68"
Weight..........126 lbs.

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez (Alhambra, California)
#1 WBC Featherweight
Record.........31-3-0 (30 KO's)
Age.............24 years, 4 months
Height..........5' 7 1/2"
Reach..........71"
Weight.........125 1/2 lbs.

The Skinny

The fight will start at 'Midnight. The 'largest crowd' in boxing history is
expected to be attendance at the 80,000 seat stadium. Additional seating
has been added in the infield and perimter areas, as well as outside the
stadium with several film outdoor movie screens.

Approximately 122,000 will be viewing the bout from inside the stadium,
for this 'highly anticpated' bout.

The Champion has been guaranteed a fight purse of $80,000, plus has
a return-match clause in his contract, in the event that he loses his
Championship.

The Challenger, Danny Lopez will receive a fight purse of $40,000, plus
an additional $5000 in expenses.

Danny Lopez arrived in Accra, Ghana 3-weeks before the bout, to get
acclimated to the intense heat and high-humidty of the African Country.

Manager, Howie Steindler did not go to Ghana, as he had a heart ailment
which prevented him taking long airline flights.

 

Saturday Night - November 6, 1976

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez wins a 'Unanimous' 15-Round Decision over Champion David 'Poison' Kotey.

Danny has his arm raised at 2:00 AM (Sunday - November 7th)

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Fight Aftermath

The new Champion - Danny Lopez spent the next day (Sunday) in the hospital, recuperating from the
grueling bout. Danny suffered from heat exhaustion, a swollen jaw, a partially closed right eye,
and a puffy left eye.

David Kotey, now an ex-Champion, was also taken to the hospital. 'DK Poison' had suffered bad cuts over
both eyes, a badly split lower lip, cuts inside his mouth, and a badly battered body.

Danny Lopez could not contact his frriends in the United States to inform them of his victory as there was
a communications 'black-out' in Ghana. Danny arrived home in Los Angeles, 4-days later on Wednesday
November 10th with the Championship Belt.

Danny also suffered damaged to his right hand in the bout, which resulted in bone chips. Danny would
require surgery to repair the hand, which would put him out of action for over 6-months.

 

February 1977

Daniel Kotey, manager of his brother, the former WBC Featherweight Champion
David Kotey has excercised his option, by offfering Champion - Danny 'Little Red' Lopez
a fight purse of $85,000 plus $5000 in expenses to grant 'DK Poison' a return match,
and to be held in Accra, Ghana - possibly in April.

The option date ends on February 6, 1977 - but Daniel Kotey has asked the World
Boxing Council for an extension until March 12, to sign contracts and complete the
negotiations.

Howie Steindler, the manager for Danny Lopez, stated that he was involved with his
own negotiations to have his fighter defend his WBC Featherweight Championship
at The Forum, versus #6 WBC Challenger - Ernesto Herrera.

Howie Steindler, 'I'm not even sure Danny can fight by April, as his right hand
has not healed for repair of the bone chips suffered in the November bout with
Kotey in Ghana.'

 

March 9, 1977

Howie Steindler, Manager of WBC Featherweight Champion - Danny 'Little Red' Lopez
was found murdered in the back seat of his 1976 Cadillac, located on the off-ramp of
Laurel Canyon Boulevard off the Ventura Freeway.

Mr. Steindler had recently been involved in difficult negotiations, in attempting to put
together a bout between Danny and former WBC Champion David 'Poison' Kotey, for a
bout set for April 9, 1977 at the Forum.

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Thank 'oli'...:hi:

David 'Poison' Kotey needed some 'proper' attention.

Some complications in getting Danny Lopez and David 'DK Posion'
together for a rematch.

Money as usual.......

The WBC had a clause for no immediate rematches, but David's bother
Daniel Kotey (Kotei) and official at the United Nations for Ghana, had
some connections in the WBC (World Boxing Council), and tried to get
Danny Lopez to come back to Ghana, to fight 'DK Poison' in the rematch.

They even offered Danny Lopez $85,000 - plus an additional $5000 in expenses.

Thats a 'nice' amount of cash for 1977.
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While waiting for Danny 'Little Red' Lopez and his injured right hand to heal.

David Kotey embarked on a '4-bout' run in Accra, Ghana.

April 30, 1977..........(KO 5) over Billy Wade - 5-22-1 (2 KO's)
* An easy 'stoppage' over 'American' Lightweght - Billy Wade, a soft punching 'record-padder'.
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July 30, 1977..........(W Dec 15) over Laurent Bazie - 46-0-2 (14 KO's)
* Kotey has to go a 'good' 15-Rounds with 'Ivory Coasts' 'undefeated 30 year-old' Laurent Bazie for
the 'vacant' African Boxing Union Featherweight Championship.

* Laurent Bazie was the #9 WBC Featherweight, and held David Kotey to a 10-Round Draw back on
March 28, 1975.

* Kotey was the harder puncher, but Bazie was able to counter-punch well for the majority of the
rounds. Kotey was 'flustered' in the later rounds, when he could not hurt the light-hitting Bazie.
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October 30, 1977.......(W Dec 10) over Jose Resto - 13-68-8 (6 KO's)
* In nothing more than a 'work-out' at (133 lbs.), Kotey wins every round in a 'modified' sparring session
with the durable, but extremely 'safe opponent' - Puerto Rican Lightweight - Jose Resto.

* Jose Resto was 'advertised' as a Top 10 Lightweight, with a record of 33-3-3 (18 KO's).
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December 4, 1977........(KO 3) over Victor 'Vaquerito' Diaz - 11-6-1 (4 KO's)
* In his 'final' tune-up bout before facing WBC Champion Danny 'Little Red' Lopez, 'DK Poison'
pounds 'over-matched' Puerto Rican Feathwerweight - Victor Diaz to the canvas '3-times' in Round 3,
to score an easy 'knockout' victory.

The 27 year-old - David 'Poison' Kotey is now 37-3-2 (22 KO's), and is ranked as the #1 WBC Featherweight

 

Wednesday Night - February 15, 1978

Hilton Hotel - Las Vegas, Nevada

WBC Featherweight Championship

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez vs. David 'Poison' Kotey II

In the 'highly anticipated rematch' between the 'two courageous' Featherweights.

WBC Champion - Danny Lopez 35-3-0 (33 KO's)
vs.
#1 WBC Featherweight - David Kotey 37-3-2 (22 KO's)

David Kotey opened up fast, and started with a two-fisted attack of left hooks and overhand rights
in Rounds 1 and 2. But the Ghanan was throwing arm punches, and was not setting down behind them,
and they had no power.

The Challenger appeared to be concerned with not getting hit from any of the Champion's hard body punches.

In Round 3, Danny Lopez took control, and started to land numerous right hands to the head of 'DK Poison',
which shook him badly. Kotey offered up no offense, and was in a complete defensive mode.

In Round 4, the Champion had a 'big round', as he hit the 'muscular' Kotey with savage right hands, which
sapped the Challenger's strength. Lopez scored with many hard right hands, which went right through Kotey's
guard. David Kotey returned to his corner woozy from the heavy barrage.

In Round 5, Lopez bored in, and continued to pound away on his fading rival with both fists, while keeping
him pinned along the ropes. Kotey was taking a frightful pounding, when suddenly, in a burst of new energy,
the Ghanan landed a tremendous counter right hand to Lopez's left eye, causing his legs to buckle and his eye
to immediately swell.

Kotey tried to attack quickly, but Lopez showed tremendous recuperative powers, and within seconds was
back to throwing hard one-two's on Kotey until the bell ending Round 5.

In Round 6, Lopez again attacked from the opening bell, and pounded away with hard punches as Kotey was
fading badly. The Champion landed '2' hard right hands that shook Kotey, and then followed with a quick
right-hand lead to the chin that floored the Challenger at the 1:00 Mark.

After taking the 'mandatory 8-count', Kotey was met by a volley of punches from Lopez which drove him into
the ropes, where the Champion then pounded away on a near defenseless Challenger.

Referee - Ray Solis jumped in and stopped the onslaught at 1:18 of Round 6.

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oli,

After Fight Comments of the - Danny Lopez vs David Kotey II 'WBC Championship Bout'

Danny Lopez

'He never hurt me. 'DK' came out fast, but his punches had no power.
As soon as I hit him to body in the 3rd-Round, I could feel him caving in.
I got caught by a lucky punch in the 5th-Round, but I came right back.'

He's a good fighter, but he's not the same as when we fought in Ghana.'

'When we fought in Ghana, there were '5' times in the bout when they cut
the round short, as I had him in big trouble. The time-keeper rang the bell
at least 30-seconds early, in Rounds 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. I saw a tape of
the film, and they rang the bell about 50-seconds early ending the 13th round,
when I had him ready to go. They even split his glove, so he could have an
additional 2-minutes of rest-time. He was really in bad-shape. But I went
right after him in the 14th, and the extra rest made little difference in the fight.'

David Kotey

'I over-trained for this fight. I have been waiting for the rematch since April 1977,
and I have been in training every day for almost 10-months. Look at my body, it
is so tight that I have not one ounce of fat on me. I'm too tight, and that is no way
to go into the ring.'

'Because of all of the problems with this fight, I would like a rematch. I will ask the
WBC to grant us a rematch within 120-Days.'

'Danny did put alot of pressure on me, and he did hit me good with a right hand to the
body in the 3rd-Round. But I was all-right. I wish I could have continued, but he was
the better fighter tonight.'

 

September 29, 1978

Lagos, Nigeria

'David Kotey Loses To Nigerian Eddie Ndukwu'

Former WBC Featherweight Champion and #3 WBC Featherweight
David 'Poison' Kotey was defeated in 15-Rounds by 'undefeated'
Eddie Ndukwu, the British-Commonwealth Featherweight Champion.

The 28 year-old Nigerian, was too fast for the former WBC Champion,
beating him to the punch time and again with hard right-hand leads.
Ndukwu was in control for the majority of bout, and boxed well to win
a convincing 15-Round Decision.

Ndukwu, had Kotey is some trouble in Rounds 12 and 13, as the Ghanan
started to fade from the constant pressure. But the game 'DK Poison'
hung on, and battled tough over the last 2-Rounds.

Scorecard {147-140} Eddie Ndukwu

Eddie Ndukwu defended his British-Commonwealth Championship for the
3rd-Time, and improved his record to 18-0-0 (14 KO's).

David Kotey falls to 37-5-2, and will most likely fall out of the Top 10
in the Featherweight Divsion.

 

Flea Man,,,,,,,,,,,,

Great digging,,,,,,,,,,

David Kotey floored Ruben Olivares in Round 1, as it was a legitimate knockdown.

The fall in the film looks like Round 12, when Ruben fell from a missed punch and being off-balance.
The Referee did not call that a knockdown.

But Ruben was also on the canvas 'three' other times from falls or receiving glancing blows that
were not called knockdowns.

Bobby Chacon, who was at ringside, called Ruben's performance;
'A pathetic display from a Mexican Warrior. He was falling down from the wind of Kotey's punches.
Ruben spent too many nights drinking beer at the Cantina's. He looked like he was drunk when
he got in the ring.'